A Broadway-bound musical about a charming serial killer and a play about a misunderstood French icon received top honors from the Connecticut Critics Association, honoring the best of the 2012-13 theater season in the state

Hartford Stage's production of "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder" received top honors as outstanding musical. The show, which also played the Old Globe Playhouse in San Diego, will open on Broadway in the fall at the Walter Kerr Theatre.

The production also received honors for outstanding director of a musical for Darko Tresnjak, who is also artistic director at Hartford Stage. Jefferson Mays, who starred in eight roles in the musical comedy, was named outstanding actor in a musical. Ken Barnett, who played the clever killer in the show, tied for outstanding featured actor in a musical.

David Adjmi's "Marie Antoinette" at Yale Repertory Theatre in New Haven was named outstanding play of the year. Also cited was Marin Ireland, a 2000 Hartt School graduate, as outstanding actress in a play for the title role of the ill-fated French royal. David Greenspan, who played the sheep, was named outstanding featured actor in a play.

J.D. Thompson was named outstanding actor in a play for the one-actor play, Terry Teachout's "Satchmo at the Waldorf" at Long Wharf Theatrein New Haven. Thompson played Louis Armstrong and his longtime agent Joe Glaser.

Outstanding actress in a musical honors went to Juliet Lambert Pratt, in "Next to Normal" at Music Theater of Connecticut in Westport.

Outstanding director of a play went to Mark Lamos, who staged A.R. Gurney's "The Dining Room" at the Westport Country Playhouse,. where he is also artistic director.

Designs awards went to Alexander Dodge for his set creations for "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder" and "Twelfth Night," both at Hartford Stage. Outstanding costumes award went to Linda Cho for "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder" and "Twelfth Night" at Hartford Stage; outstanding sound design went to Leah Gelpe for "January Joiner" at Long Wharf Theatre's Stage II; outstanding lighting went to Philip Rosenberg for "The Year of Magical Thinking" at Westport Country Playhouse and "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder" at Hartford Stage.

This year the prestigious Tom Killen Award goes to theAetna New Voices Fellowship program at Hartford Stage.

A season-long engagement, the program provides an artistic home for important playwrights of color to develop work and become involved in the ongoing life of Greater Hartford. The residency includes working with the theater's education department, advancing community development, and the commissioning of a new work, as well as a series of readings and workshops throughout the year. Recipients include Matthew Lopez,Marcus Gardley, Daniel Beaty and Quiera Alegria Hudes, who won last year's Pulitzer Prize for her play "Water By the Spoonful" which was developed in Hartford when she was a fellow.

The Connecticut Critics Circle Awards will be presented at a celebration of Connecticut theater on Monday, June 10 st Long Wharf Theatre , 222 Sargent Drive in New Haven, this year's hosts. There will be a reception at 6:30 p.m. and the awards ceremony, with entertainment, will start at 7:30 p.m. The oubloic is imnvited to the free event. Please RSVP to Steve Scarpa, 203-772-8255 or 203-787-4284 or steven.scarpa@longwharf.org in order to get an accurate headcount for the event.

Be the first to know by following me on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/ShowRiz.